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The Fear of the Unknown
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of “The Call of Cthulhu” is the fact that it pushes readers to confront the unknown. Lovecraft plays on humans’ instinctual fear of things that are unfamiliar to them, and he heightens this level of discomfort by emphasizing just how much remains unknown about the universe. Wilcox’s bas-relief and other Cthulhu-inspired statues serve as key symbols of this dynamic as hardly anyone is able to identify the imagery or inscriptions on them. They represent something completely alien to the men who discover them, rendering them uneasy and desperate to find answers about their origin and meaning. Attempting to alleviate these feelings by learning more about the world, however, proves to be an equally terrifying experience. Uncovering the dark truth behind the statues and the Cthulhu cult ultimately disturbs Thurston so much that he begins to go mad. By depicting a universe immense enough to contain a completely hidden city of monstrous creatures, Lovecraft suggests that some things are better of remaining unknown. He pushes the reader to fear Cthulhu, a logic-defying embodiment of the world’s brutality, more than the idea of the unknown itself. Even the very first lines of the story work to establish this perspective, suggesting that there is a degree of safety inherent in ignorance despite the intimidating nature of the “black seas of infinity.” Alternatively, only danger and fear come to those who demystify the unknown and discover Cthulhu.
The Shortcomings of Science
Given H.P. Lovecraft’s strong interest in subjects such as astronomy, chemistry, and mathematics, it is unsurprising that “The Call of Cthulhu” makes occasional references to the sciences. Rather than celebrating the power of scientific advancement, however, Lovecraft seems to use the story to highlight its limitations and warn against the dangers it poses. He hints at this bleak perspective in the first paragraph, suggesting that mankind’s discoveries will one day reveal “terrifying vistas of reality.” While Thurston’s research falls more into the category of social science, his pursuit of knowledge serves as a prime example of the risks associated with scientific breakthroughs. He begins by searching for a rational explanation for Wilcox’s strange dreams, the various statuettes, and the Cthulhu cult, but he ends up finding something far more complex and terrifying. This outcome decreases Thurston’s quality of life, driving him mad and leaving him with few options moving forward.
Thurston’s discovery of Cthulhu also emphasizes the idea that scientific principles cannot be used to define or explain all of the universe’s phenomena. Cthulhu, the Great Old Ones, and the city of R’lyeh all defy the laws of nature, meaning that their existence cannot be understood through logical reasoning. The structure of R’lyeh challenges traditional interpretations of time and space, for example, and the ability of the Great Old Ones to communicate with humans through their dreams has no rational explanation. By including these bizarre, unnatural elements in the story, Lovecraft highlights the vastness and inherent unknowability of the cosmos.
The Decline of Western Civilization
Among H.P. Lovecraft’s complex web of philosophies about the universe is the fear that Western civilization is in a constant state of decline. He believed that the state of the world would eventually become so dire that society itself would collapse, leading to uncontrollable chaos that could not be reversed. While he explores this theme in a number of his literary works, he alludes to these concerns in “The Call of Cthulhu” through his characterization of the Cthulhu cult and the Great Old Ones. Everything about these strange phenomena, from the cult’s form of worship to the motives of the Great Old Ones, is riddled with violence. Until the stars align and allow Cthulhu to reawaken, worshippers from around the world wreak havoc on its behalf. Their rituals feature bestial cries and writhing movements, and they brutally kidnap and kill to offer Cthulhu human sacrifices. This type of behavior, which Johansen experiences from Cthulhu itself as he flees R’lyeh, is indicative of who the Great Old Ones are as a whole. Their return to earth, which Thurston emphasizes could occur at any time, would undoubtedly mark the end of Western civilization.
The sociopolitical context of the era in which Lovecraft was writing stories like “The Call of Cthulhu” offers some insight into the inspiration behind this doomsday attitude. His writing career began during World War I, and by the time he wrote “The Call of Cthulhu” in 1926, the world had been irreversibly altered by human violence. He also held deeply racist beliefs and felt that multiculturalism would lead to chaos and the collapse of Western society. While other factors certainly contributed to Lovecraft’s philosophy about civilizational decline as well, his macabre descriptions of Cthulhu and the Great Old Ones seem to reflect the turmoil of his time.
